Bernie Oakes got his first signal that something was wrong with his heart in his early 20s, while undergoing a physical for the Marine Corps. His blood pressure was high, but came down when the test was repeated after he lay down to relax.

A congenital heart defect required Jen Hyde to have two open-heart surgeries, including heart valve replacement by the time she was 25. Now, the Brooklyn poet and artist is using her experiences to channel her art and connect with other survivors.

What a dramatic difference my experience with heart failure could've resulted had someone who'd walked in my shoes - down the road I'm going and provided a shoulder to lean on, or an attentive ear to listen.